Removable knee patches for pants



Sept. 18, 1951 K. E. MITCHELL REMOVABLE KNEE PATCHES FOR PANTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 6, 1949 Sept. 18, 1951 Filed Dec. 6, 1949 K. E. MITCHELL 2,568,083

REMOVABLE KNEE PATCHES FOR PANTS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Sept. 18, I951 REMO ABLE NEE PATICHESFORI PANTS KathrynEyMitchell, Boise, Idaho l pplication lie'cember s, 1949, Serial No. 131,365

My invention relates to .removablepatches for pants and slacks. Y K Among the objects of my invention is to provide a pair of pants which maybe worn by men, women or children, and which is sdcons'tructed that removable kneepatches may be quickly and easily installed and removed; It is well known that children are rough on the knees of their clothing. They play on their knees, crawl on their knees and fall on their knees, eachtime injuring the fabric of their pants. It is never long before the knees of the pants are worn out and must be patched. Since the identical material is seldom available, the patch; is of a contrasting color or material and is unsightly. From then on the pants must be relegated 'to a secondary status anclmay no longer be worn for dress. I

The same condition exists for adultslwho continually or occasionally work on. their knees, such as carpenters, plumbers, farmers, and many others. It is among the objects. of my invention to provide a pair of pants which may be worn for dress and which appears to be identical with an or-.

It is, however, provided dinary pair of pants. with concealed means for receiving ar1d permanently holding in place apairofknee'spatches which are made of identically the same material as the pants themselves: The patches may be quickly and easily installed-and are substantially unnoticeable when in place. I 1 'l' 1 In use, my invention providesa means for saving the knees of pants. from'xthe wear, tear and dirt which they would ordinarily receive. Inthe case of children, the parents no longer'need require the child to change from-dress pants-to play or work pants and then back again. All of this is avoided through the simple installation and removal oi the knee patches. .Similarly, in.

advantages and capabilities'as will ntermwe fully appear and which" are inherentlypos'sessed by my invention.

While I have shown infthef accompanying drawings, preferred embodiments'of my invention, yet it is to be'unders'tobd that the same are v ,5 'Claims. o1. 2 231);

susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention. Referring to the drawings, Fig, 1 is a front elevational view of a pair of pants with the patches in place; Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same; Fig. 3 is'a detailed view of a portion of the right knee and patch; Fig. 4 is an enlarged and broken detailed view of a portion of the left knee and patch; Fig. 5 is a front elevational view of the knee portions of a pair of pants showing another embodiment of my invention; Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of one leg with the patch in place; Fig. 7 is a front elevational view of the patch; Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of the patch in place; Fig. 9 is a front elevational view of a patch showing another embodiment of my invention; Fig. 10 is a front elevational view of the knee portion showing one overlap'portion-open and Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view of the patch in place. I A preferred embodiment of my invention comprises a pair of pants Ill having a right leg I I and a left leg I2. The pants are made in the cus-, tomary manner except for the particular features hereinafter set forth. I

Right leg I I is provided with an outer seam I 3 which extends from the belt line to the bottom of the leg and an inner seam I4 which extends from the crotch to the end of the leg. Left leg I2 is similarly provided with an outer seam I5 and an inner seamIIi.

Outer seam I3 extends in a straight line down the outer edge of right leg II until it reaches-"a point adjacent the top of the portion of right leg v II which covers the knees of the wearer. Outer is approximately one-half inch in length. Outer seam I3 then makes another right angle and extends downwardly for approximately seven inches, forming an overlap portion I 8. Itthen extends at a right angle toward the front of pants II] to form a bottom jog I9, which is alsojapproximately one-half inch in length, and then continues downwardly to the bottom of right leg I I".

Inner seam Id of right leg II is similarly constructed and is provided with a top job 20', an overlap portion 2| and a bottom jog 22. Outer seam I5 of left leg I2 similarly has a top dog 23, an overlap portion 24 and a bottom jog 25 ,Inner seam I 6'of left leg [2 has a top. jog 26', an overlap portion 21 and a bottom jog 2'8. At the time that outer seam I3 is sewed, there is inserted therein between the two portions'of cloth forming right 18%" II, the cloth portion t'f'a slide fastener half 29. Slide fastener half 29 is approximately six inches in length and is firmly held in place by outer seam 13. It preferably extends slightly less than one-quarter inch from outer seam l3, so that it is completely concealed by overlap portion IS. The starting end of slide fastener half 29 is preferably positioned adjacent and just short of top jog H of outer seam I3. The terminating end of slide fastener half 29 is preferably positioned: adjacent-and justzshort of bottom jog'lil-of outer seam I3;

Inner seam 14 of right leg II is similarly pro-' vided with a slide fastener half 30, which is concealed by overlap portion 2l-xand-7ispreferably positioned with its starting end adjacent bottom jog 22, opposite to the positioning of the corresponding slide fastener half29.-ofouter.,seam-.l3.

Outer seam l5 of left leg 12 is similarly provided with a slide fastener half 3| which :is-concealed by overlap portion; 24 and which is preferqablyzpositiol ed withqiits sstar-ting aend a djacent t p jOgr23. :Innemseam 6:;0 l f -le l im larlyrprovidediw-ith; a--sl-ide,.fastenen half-32 awhich .-is.-concealedabyaoverlap;portionI 2 1, and-isprefer- :ably :positioned with :,its-.;-starti ng end adjacent bottom jog-23opposite totgtheyiflesitioning of, .the ,icorrespond-ing.-;slide fastener, ..half I .30 gof outer :seam 115.

- r: ;In;:constructing-the seamsand; legs in-themannerraboveyset 'forth-,;,theemaker may-provide a sufficient. excess of-- -material. along 1, the. entire 'lengthqoflthe: seams -ormerely along the knee portion, or ihe -.-may supplyran1 additional: small piece -of;;c loth- ,to supplementtthat-which; is nor- ;m'ally used-in-;making .thexp ants.

. {For use with -thisconstruction I provide a;right dmcepatch 33V and a left knee patcltfl, which are :preferably: made of exactly ,thesame material-as :zthetpants 0. They;should preferably correspond in color, marking, etc. to the knees .of;,pa-nts 1,0.

.gRight-knee-patch. .is-provided at. its left edge with a slide fastener half 35, the a cloth .part of "which? is; sewed .to -.knee patch r33, so that.,slide fastener half .35 extends-along substantially. the

entire left edge of knee;;patoh,32.; :Slideiastener "half :35 has at theztop. thereof a holding-.mem- =ber;136 ;-which is adapted .toholdthe-starting end P of a corresponding ,slidenfastener half. Movably positioned. on slide fastener half; 35. is. anoperat- .-ing-.-member;.31 which -is-;adap.ted..to receive .the

starting end of a corresponding.slidelfastener :half and then slide along,sjoiningtthetwo.edges -together.

5 Right 1 knee pa-tch :=33 is provided ..at gitsright edge with-another slide fastenerhalf,38,.-which hasat itsbottom-a holdingmember iifir and which has an operatin smemberldil.

Left knee patch..3.4 hasats. itswleftaed e. .a. ..slid 1 fastener -half 4 l, which has..a.1hldipg.- member 42 at thentopgandan operatih member'fi. 'At itsright edge it has aslide fastenerQhalf 44 .with

a holding member .45 at. the,top,and ,an,operating member.,.46.

..In. .use, the. pants. [.0 may, be worn in thensual manneiyubearing no, superficialJdissimilarity from i any Wother, pair. nfpants. .Thepslide fastener phalves-arerall concealed Within the overlap portions of'the seams. ".The pants maybe worn in this manner without the patches jfor anyudress V occasion. V

, When the .weareris .ready -to workrohplay. th knee patches 33 and. ,maygthenbeput in :place.

.,.'I his is done. ,by simply. hooking, itheflstarting end dofslide fastener. half 29,;thr0ughthe openingsof operating .member .-'3 1;. land holding nember 236 4 of the corresponding slide fastener half 35. Op erating member 31 may then he slid downwardly until it reaches the end of the slide fastener halves. This fastens the left side of knee patch 32 firmly in place.

A corresponding operation may then be repeated to fasten the remaining edges of knee patches 33 and 34. This may be accomplished in a matter of seconds, with no difiiculty whatso- :ever.

- When'-thus-inp1ace,'knee patches 33 and 34 are securely held in place over the knees of the -=pants Ill. Both edges of the slide fasteners and the holding ,andoperating members are concealed within'the overlap portions of the seams.

."Ihepatcheslblend in with the remainder of the ..pants, so that they are not noticeable when observed'from a distance.

; In-- use, knee patches 33 and 34 bear the.-brunt go of the shocks, scraping; tearing and normal wear .whichwould; .otherwiserbe, received by ..the .knees of the'pants. When the wearer ,desirestolchange tea more formald-ress, forwearother than play orv work, the ,knee patches ,.33 and ,34 .may the :quickly, and easily ;removed ,and-the vpants. re-

stored to their normal .condition.

. .The slide fasteners .on..e ach,knee p atch 33,and .34, are preferably,,positionedsogas to workinop ,posite. directions. A strain. on, the ,top or bottom 0 of the patch willnottben. cause the patohtolbe torn from ,theknee. Atgthe .w0rst,,only.,one.side will be affected -and ,the slide fastener :on that sidecan easilyb slidbaqkto closed position.

. In the, center of .overlap ,portion ,1 8, .1 provide ,-:is a button.;55 .whichjs mountedion. overlap por- 7 tion 18 with a correspon'ding' buttonhole on. right leg ll and;patch'j33. v.iThe purpose of'buttonjlifi is to provide a means for fastening overlap portion'latov right-legill or,patch'*33. Otherwise, o overlap portion l8 may bulge out at its center and provide a-gap' through which the slide-fastener would be visible. Similar buttons55 are provided for the other overlap-portions-2 1,; 24' and 21:

'Figs; '5 through" 8'show'another embodiment of my invention" in which-buttons areused -in place of slide fasteners. -In this embodiment, the overlap portions-are provided with buttons 41, four of which are 1 placed 'on each overlap portion. The-legs ofihe pantsare provided with four *butt0n' holes-'48 beneatheachoverlap portion for fastening the-overlap portion to the pants when the patches are not inrplace. The patches 49 :are provided. with four; button hOIBS'iE JU on each; side thereof, corresponding;to-buttons 41.

*Figs. -9 through 11: show 'yetanother embodiment "of-my invention; in which, snap fasteners arer nsedzinz-place; of aslide fastener or buttons. In :this, .embodiment;=the overlap portions are provided WithzfOllI ;snap fastener halves 5|. .Tne rlegaof the; pants; are provided with four ;ccrresponding -snap;fastenenhal-ves -52. Thepatches 53; are providedg withfoursna fastener halves,- 54.

.It' is also. contemplated. that hooks and eyesor other fastening means may be used inttheisame manner as .thebuttons and snap fasteners shown and described.

, It isialso within the spirit -of my inventionto provide; a patch which ,is made ofstronger materials than the pants, or which is provided. with Padding-to protect the ;knee of.the wearer.

. ,Having thus described; my. invention, I claim: 1. A pair of pants having two legs, an outer and an. inner seamsextending on the outer-and inner edges of eachof, said legs, said seams havlln .top lo s.- therein extending toward. the. rear of said pants adjacent the beginning of the knee portions of said pants, said seams continuing downwardly and then having bottomjogs returning to the original paths of said seams adjacent the ending of the knee portions of said pants, said jogs forming overlap portions, four slide fastener halves positioned and concealed within said overlap portions, said slide fastener halves held in place by said seams, and a pair of knee patches constructed of the same material as said: pants, each of said knee patches having a slide fastener half extending along each of its side edges, said slide fastener halves having holding members and operating members positioned thereon, said knee patches adapted to be quickly and easily installed on said pants by attaching said holding members and operating members to the slide fastener halves in the overlap portions of said pants and sliding said operating members to join said slide fastener halves together, said slide fasteners concealed within said overlap portions when said knee patches are in place, said knee patches adapted to be quickly and easily removed by reversing the operation of said operating members, said slide fastener halves in said overlap portions of each leg of said pants having their starting ends positioned at opposite top and bottom ends of said overlap portions to prevent the accidental removal of said'patches. I

2. A pair of pants having two legs, an outer and an inner seam extending on the outer and inner edges of each of said legs, said seams having top jogs therein extending toward the rear of said pants adjacent the beginning of the knee portions of said pants, said seams continuing downwardly and then having bottom jogs returning to the original paths of said seams adjacent the ending of the knee portions of said pants, said jogs forming overlap portions, four slide fastener halves positioned and concealed within said overlap portions, said slide fastener halves held in place by said seams, and a pair of knee patches constructed of the same material as said pants, each of said knee patches having a slide fastener half extending along each of its side edges, said slide fastener halves having holding members and operating members positioned thereon, said knee patches adapted to be quickly and easily installed on said pants by attaching said holding members and operating members to the slide fastener halves in the overlap portions of said pants and sliding said operating members to join said slide fastener halves together, said slide fasteners concealed within said overlap portions when said knee patches are in of said knee patches having a slide fastener half extending along each of its side edges, said knee patches adapted to be quickly and easily installed on said pants by attaching said slide fastener halves on said pants and patches together, said slide fasteners concealed within said overlap portions when said patches are in place, saidpatches adapted to be quickly and easily removed by separating said slide fastener halves, said slide fasteners on each leg working in opposite directions to each other to prevent accidental removal of said patches.

4. A pair of pants having two legs, an outer and an inner seam extending on the sides of each of said legs, said seams having overlap portions which are adjacent the knee portions of said pants, four slide fastener halves positioned and concealed within said overlap portions, said slide fastener halves held in place by said seams, and a pair of knee patches constructed of the same material as said pants, each of said knee patches having a slide fastener half extending along each of its side edges, said knee patches adapted to be quickly and easily installed on said pants by attaching said slide fastener halves on said pants and patches together, said slide fasteners concealed within said overlap portions when said patches are in place, said patches adapted to be quickly and easily removed by separating said fastener halves.

5. A pair of pants having two legs, an outer and an inner seam extending on the outer and inner edges of each of said legs, said seams having top jogs therein extending toward the rear of said pants adjacent the beginning ofthe knee portions of said pants, said seams continuing downwardly and then having bottom jogs returning to the original paths of said seams adjacent the ending of the knee portions of said pants, said jogs forming overlap portions, "fastening means positioned and concealed within said overlap portions, and a pair of knee patches constructed of the same material as said pants, each of said knee patches having fasteningv means positioned at each of its side edges, said knee patches adapted to be quickly and easily installed on said pants by attaching said fastening means on said pants and said fastening means on said knee patches together, both of said fastening means being concealed within said overlap portions when said knee patches are in place, said knee patches adapted to be quickly and easily removed by separating said fastening means.

KATHRYN E. MITCHELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,777,620 Modesitt Oct. 7, 1930 2,079,220 Mahoney May 4, 1937 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 10,677 Great Britain Nov. 6, 1912 

